An Iceland packing list seems appropriate since as I'm typing this, a "historic blizzard" is bearing down on the city. You'd think that weather like this would be the perfect preparation for my trip. Unfortunately, that's not really the case. There’s an old saying that goes: “If you don’t like the weather in Iceland, wait five minutes and it will change.”

Oh ok, so prepare for ALL WEATHER, ALL THE TIME?

Don't believe me? Check out Bourdain's Iceland episode and watch him get caught in a spontaneous blizzard after perfectly sunny conditions. I guess this goes without saying, but I'm packing a shit ton of layers. Not just any layers. Waterproof layers. Apparently in addition to blizzards, "sideways rain" is a common occurrence there. That's all well and good; I have ski gear for those situations. Here's where it gets confusing. Our home base of Reykjavik isn't your typical GorTex-and-fleece kind of city even though the whole damn country is based around outdoor activities. Instead, its more like hyper-fashion-concious-Brooklyn (which you may have guessed if you listened to my Iceland Playlist). SEE MY PROBLEM?!

He tried toughing it out for the sake of fashion.

I figure that I'll bring a few pieces of "normal human clothes" and the rest will be pulled from my "love of the great outdoors" collection. Spoiler Alert: They will be mixed and matched during the trip so basically everything I'm bringing is neutral and warm. Here's what's going in my carry-on bag (that Kevin better not force me to check).

Outdoor:

Those funny looking cage things are for my hiking boots. They stretch over shoes and help you gain traction on ice. You're probably asking yourself what the fuck a swimsuit is doing on my list. Iceland is well-known for their thermal hot springs, especially the Blue Lagoon, so you bet your ass I'm bringing a swimsuit. I'll also have a bunch of base layers, SmartWool socks, and a pair of waterproof pants for those sideways rain days. The fold-up backpack will come in handy for our day excursions around in the countryside.

Around Town:

Yes, that's a dress. On the off-off chance that I can wear one, I want to be prepared. Some places have a dress code, and I don't want to be stuck having to buy something in Iceland (everything is two to three times more expensive than here).

For those who've been to Iceland before, am I overpacking? Or better yet, am I missing anything?